Category: General

Temperatures will remain high on Thursday, the Department Meteorology says in a yellow warning issued on Wednesday afternoon. According to the warning, which is valid from 11:00 until 17:00 on Thursday, maximum temperatures are expected to rise to around 41 degrees Celsius over inland areas and around 33 degrees Celsius over the higher mountainous areas. In addition, the Department of Forests in a press release informs the public that the risk of forest fires will continue to be on ‘Red Alert’ on Thursday. It notes that the lighting of fire without a permit is prohibited and constitutes an offence which, according to the Law on Forests could lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to pound 50,000 or both while the Prevention of Fires in the Countryside Law, provides for up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to pound 20,000, or both. Lighting a fire for food preparation is only allowed in the barbecue areas of picnic sites, it points out. The Department also calls on the public to be especially careful during outings, to avoid actions and activities that are likely to cause a fire, such as the use of tools or agricultural machinery that produce heat, sparks or flame, such as angle grinders and welding. In case of smoke or fire the public is urged to immediately call 1407 (Forestry Department) or 112 (Fire Service).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

German consumer morale in August is expected to fully recover from the prior month’s losses, according to a GfK institute survey on Thursday. Market researcher GfK is forecasting minus 24.4 points for consumer sentiment in August, up from a downwardly revised minus 25.2 in July, with income expectations set to hike. The propensity to buy and the propensity to save, on the other hand, remain virtually unchanged compared with a month earlier. The decrease in pessimism is owing to the hope of declining inflation rates, said Rolf Burkl, a consumer expert for Nuremberg-based GfK. “This has somewhat improved the chances of consumer sentiment resuming its recovery course. However, the level will still remain low in the coming months, and private consumption will therefore not be able to make a positive contribution to overall economic development,” he added. Income expectations rose 5.5 points month-on-month to minus 5.1 points in August, the highest level since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Economic expectations continued to remain at 3.7 points in August, following an easing in the prior two months.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The death toll from the powerful Typhoon Doksuri in the Philippines climbed to five on Thursday, state-run media reported. Four more deaths were reported from the northern region of Cordillera, according to Philippine News Agency. Also, two people were injured in the regions of Western Visayas and Calabarzon, southwest of the capital Manila. The number of people affected by the heavy downpour, strong winds and flooding also raised to 328,356 as the typhoon ripped through 836 villages in the island nation. Local authorities have shifted thousands of people to evacuation centers. As many as 400 houses have been damaged by the typhoon. Taiwan Meanwhile, Taiwan also reported at least one death due to flooding caused by the Typhoon Doksuri. According to the Central Emergency Operation Center, three people were trapped in flood water in eastern Taiwan on Wednesday. Firefighters rescued two of them while the third, a woman, lost her life. The Central Weather Bureau has issued a warning for heavy rain and strong winds in southern Taiwan from Thursday to Friday. Dozens of international and domestic flights were canceled on Thursday, with schools and offices closed in some areas.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Japan and France began their first-ever fighter jet exercise on Thursday. Paris has sent two Rafale fighters from the French Air and Space Force while three F-15 and two F-2 fighter jets from Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) are participating in the joint drill over southwestern Japan, according to the JASDF. The drill, which would continue until Saturday, came amid reports that France is opposed to the idea of NATO opening its office in Tokyo. Aerial fueling planes and transport aircraft from the countries are also accompanying the jets. ? On Wednesday, the French fighter jets reached Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki province. The air force of Japan has held joint fighter jet exercises with Germany and India since last year. Similar joint drills with Italy and Australia are scheduled in August. Last month, reports emerged that French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his objections to NATO’s plans to establish an office in Japan, which would be the first of its kind in Asia, saying it will be a ‘big mistake.’ In January, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reached an agreement to enhance their partnership. They had acknowledged that Russia’s war on Ukraine and its military collaboration with China have created ‘the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II.’

Source: Anadolu Agency

Deputy Government Spokesperson, Doxa Komodromou, attended events organised by the Cypriot expatriate community in Australia condemning the tragic anniversaries of the coup d’ état and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, representing the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. Komodromou, who was the keynote speaker in anti-occupation events in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney, was accompanied by the High and Deputy High Commissioner Antonis Sammoutis and Stavros Nicolaou respectively. The events took place between July 14th and July 24th. During her visit to Adelaide, she visited the largest museum in the area accompanied by Member of Parliament and Minister of Art and Small Family Business, Andrea Michaels, who is of Cypriot origin. She also met with Senior Advisor to Senator Simon Birmingham, member of the Cyprus-Australia Friendship Group of the Federal Parliament. At an event dedicated to Cyprus that took place at the “House of Cyprus”, Komodromou had a meeting with MP John Paul Langbroek, Shadow Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Multiculturalism, as well as Judge, Anthi Filippidou. Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, five days after the legal government of the late Archbishop Makarios III was toppled by a military coup, engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Agriculture Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Andreas Gregoriou reiterated the country’s support for any EU initiative to export food from Ukraine and enhance food security, during his participation on Tuesday at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting held in Brussels. According to a Ministry statement regarding the monitoring of stock, Gregoriou supported the need to collect data in order to take timely measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the market, transparency and a level playing field. Regarding the Commission’s proposal on the sustainable use of plant protection products, Gregoriou said that there are still serious concerns about the possible negative impact on the sustainability of agricultural production as a result of the reduction and severe restrictions on the use of plant protection products. He also stressed as a very important parameter the existence of readily available alternatives and technological means that are practically and economically viable. Gregoriou thanked the Commission for the recent support measure for agriculture, noting however that the amount allocated to Cyprus is not sufficient to effectively solve the problems of its agricultural sector, and stressed the high dependence of Cyprus on imports and the increased production costs which put a significant burden on Cypriot farmers. He noted that no reliable forecasts can be made for cereal production due to weather conditions and the increased cost of cultivation. It is added that the Council also discussed the recent Commission regulations proposals concerning new genomic techniques and proposals on plant and forest reproductive material. Regarding the proposal on new genomic techniques, Gregoriou said that Cyprus is approaching the proposal with a positive attitude, however, appropriate safeguards should be examined and defined to create conditions for the protection of farmers and small businesses in the agricultural sector. With regard to the proposals on plant and forest reproductive material, Cyprus supports the effort to modernise the existing EU legislative framework for the movement and marketing of reproductive material, the statement concludes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Youth has an indispensable role to play within the UN System, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN Andreas Hadjichrysanthou said, adding in this regard, that Cyprus welcomes the report of the Secretary General on the United Nations Youth Office, and expresses appreciation for all the updates provided in relation to the establishment of the new UN Youth Office. Hadjichrysanthou addressed the 77th Session of the General Assembly, ‘Item 134. Report of the United Nations Youth Office.’ ‘We believe that the establishment of a UN Youth Office, based on General Assembly Resolution 76/306, should effectively integrate the current activities of the Office of the Envoy on Youth’ he said in his statement, according to the Press and Information Office (PIO). The Ambassador also indicated that the UN Youth Office should continue to lead high-level advocacy and serve as the anchor for the United Nations system coordination and accountability on youth matters, including peace and security, sustainable development, humanitarian action, and human rights. He also reiterated that Cyprus continues to support the integration of the current activities of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth in the new Youth Office and reiterates the importance of institutional memory related to youth issues across the UN System. As Ambassador Hadjichrysanthou noted, it is imperative to address young people’s priorities and challenges to realize their full potential in local, national, regional, and international level, having as our top priority the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the 2030 Agenda. ‘Youth forms the backbone of our societies, holding tremendous potential for positive action and innovative solution, and therefore, we need to recognise and empower youth in this regard’ he stressed. He also underlined that Cyprus implements programmes and specific actions on how to strengthen youth participation such as the ‘Youth Parliament of Cyprus’, an initiative by two youth NGOs that has been institutionalized by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, providing a permanent space for youth of Cyprus to present their ideas and proposals to policy making and decision-making structures. Ambassador Hadjichrysanthou said that launch of the Youth2030 agenda in 2018, as well as the dedicated track on ‘Our Common Agenda’, provide a great momentum for a meaningful youth engagement at all levels. He expressed once more Cyprus’ appreciation for Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, H.E. Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, for her participation in the event ‘Youth of Cyprus celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations’, organized by the Cypriot Youth NGO ‘Cyprus Youth DiplomaCY’ back in December 2020 – with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. An event which, as he added, ‘gave youth of Cyprus the opportunity to express directly, on the highest lever, their views on the UN they want.’

Source: Cyprus News Agency

We are going through an extremely critical period, with occupying Turkey having escalated its actions and aggressive rhetoric to a dangerous degree and proceeding to create a fait accompli on our occupied territories, Defence Minister Michael Giorgallas said on Wednesday. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Army, Navy and Air Force non-commissioned officers, Giorgallas said that “in this unstable and constantly changing geopolitical environment, the state bases its diplomatic efforts on the presence of a strong National Guard, as the main pillar of political and diplomatic power.” Addressing the new officers, the Defence Minister urged them to face “with patience and perseverance” any difficulty that will be presented before them and to become “an example of modesty, seriousness and selflessness” for their subordinates. For his part, the Chief of the National Guard Demokritos Zervakis said to the officers that “they should keep in mind that their top mission from now on is to defend the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus.” Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday a delegation headed by Minister Sergey Shoygu arrived in North Korea to participate in celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Korean people in the Patriotic Liberation War. North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam arrived at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport to personally welcome Shoygu, it said in a statement. “This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of cooperation between the two countries,” the ministry added.

Source: Anadolu Agency

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly embarked Tuesday on a three-day visit to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, during which he will emphasize the UK’s growing partnership with the region and help build ‘mutually beneficial’ ties. Cleverly’s trip comes after the government announced that citizens from the three countries would benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization visa scheme, which is planned to make travel to the UK cheaper and more accessible for visitors, according to a statement by the Foreign Office. ‘I am delighted to be back in the Middle East. The UK’s mutually beneficial relationships with the Gulf and Jordan thrive. We have a bright future together. From working together on shared goals like developing stronger trade ties and security, I am proud of how we are collaborating to benefit us all,’ he said. The foreign secretary will announce up to £1.5 million ($1.9 million) to support initiatives in Jordan for women and girls. The funding will go towards civil society organizations. He will also meet representatives from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme, where he will announce £30 million ($38.6 million) over three years to provide financial support to refugees. On Tuesday, Cleverly met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He will then travel to meet with Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and discuss ‘exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation’ on Wednesday. Cleverly will meet with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday.

Source: Anadolu Agency